order of introduction

[Ross]

Right now i have 2 small percs in my 84g. The fish i plan on getting are
1 royal gramma
1 sixline wrasse
1 flame angel
1 purple tang
The next fish is going to be the royal gramma. I'm really not sure in which order to put them after that. I know the flame angel needs an established tank and the tang will be very territorial. I have also heard that a wrasse should be the last fish in the tank. I was thinking the wrasse then the angle then the tang, but i'm no sure. What do you guys think?

[captexas]

The two most difficult ones will be the purple tang and the flame angel. Most books will tell you that the flame angel should be the last fish you add to a tank. I have heard though that purple tangs can be aggressive as well and should be added later on after the other fish have a chance to establish their territory. It might just be a toss up which one you add before the other. You should keep a close eye on them and if they start picking on each other try moving your live rock around so they all have to re-establish their areas. You may not have any trouble with them at all though as tangs usually are most aggressive towards other fish of similar color and/or shape.

[captexas]

I have a six line wrasse in my 75 with a blue/hippo tang, chocolate tang, lawnmower blenny, and a pair of percula clowns. The chocolate tang is the big bully of the group, but for some reason it doesn't ever bother the wrasse. Six Pack does tend to mind his own business and swims through the rock and back of tank though.

[Tim Marvin]

If it were me, I would add them all at the same time. Then they will all be new to the tank and have to settle in together.

[Ross]

That would be alot of fish in a 10g quarantine and then when i put them in the big tank the bioload would go up alot wouldn't it? You don't think the ammonia will spike?

[OrionN]

I would add them in the exact order you have it in the first post. The Flame angel should not bother the Purple tang. Also, most likely the Purple tang will be bigger if mot much bigger than the flame angel.
Minh
CapTexas is right. May be you should wait to add the six line last. It can hold it's own against any fish.

[captexas]

In a fairly new tank, yes it would spike as the tank would have to slowly adjust to handle that much fish. Tangs also require regular feeding which would also add to the problem. If the tank is new, you might want to wait awhile to add the sixline wrasse as it will probably eat all your pods and such in the tank.

I wouldn't bother with the 10g tank if you buy all at once, they would be so stressed out they wouldn't last. I'm not sure if the quality of flames has gotten any better recently, but they were having a poor survival rate for a large part of this year. Might want to get smaller/ specimens of each one and hope that being young they won't be as aggressive.

[Tim Marvin]

We are only talking about 4 fish in an 84 gallon right? I would still add them all.

[Tim Marvin]

You may be right, I was assuming it had been up for a couple months. It may be best to do some sand trading and then add the fish.

[Ross]

The tank has been set up for about 4 months. I upgraded from a 55 using the same lr, ls and wet/dry. So you don't think i should quarantine the fish? I just got my royal gramma yesterday and he is in quarantine right now. I guess i will wait a month or so after my royal gramma goes in the big tank to get the other fish. Does anyone want to trade sand with me at the meeting?

[Tim Marvin]

I'll give you some sand Ross.

[Ross]

Cool
I'll bring some sand too.

[MikeP]

I'd actually add the 6 line wrasse last - actually I'd maybe not put him in at all and look at a more low key wrasse like maybe a fairy wrasse - 6 lines get mean and will destroy the microfauna in your tank to boot.